During the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s debate on the Governor’s address, the ruling DMK strongly urged the Central government to go beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete steps to make Tamil a governing language of India. The party called for Tamil to be recognised as an official language for court proceedings, including in the Supreme Court, the High Court, and all courts in Tamil Nadu.Public Works and Highways Minister E.V. Velu said that if the Centre was sincere about celebrating Tamil, it should accord it functional authority rather than merely promoting it abroad. He stressed that Tamil should be allowed for legal arguments and administrative use across the country.
The demand was made in response to a BJP legislator’s praise of the Centre’s efforts to promote Tamil globally, with DMK leaders countering that real empowerment of the language must include its use in governance and justice delivery.
The debate also featured sharp exchanges on other issues, including law and order and cultural heritage, reflecting ongoing tensions between the state government and the Centre over language policy and cultural recognition.